"Over there."
Evan Lin's gaze shifted, looking toward the edge of the crowd.
That area was littered with rubble—nothing could be seen from the outside.
"I used the Earth-Spirit Mortal Body's detection art and searched for a long time, but couldn't find the Great Bronze Sarcophagus, nor the Woman Statue or the Crimson Core Chain."
"But at least, I found something."
With a thought, Evan walked straight over to that spot.
Grandmaster You, Queenie, and Yvette Locke followed at Evan's side, ignoring the crowd lining up to test their Spirit-Test Beads.
When they reached the rubble, Evan brushed aside the thick layer of stones covering the top with a single hand.
Soon, a small night-luminous pearl was revealed underneath.
"That's the thing from inside the Great Bronze Sarcophagus." Grandmaster You eyed the pearl warily.
Evan picked it up and looked closely. Inside the pearl, a few dormant bugs could be seen.
Devour-Spirit Grubs.
The bugs Grandmaster Phoenix Bai raised to use against Lily Zhao.
It's a decent thing, though it's got no real use right now.
"The Great Bronze Sarcophagus vanished without a trace, the Woman Statue is gone, and even at the bottom of the Coldspire Peak ruins, I couldn't sense the passage where the Crimson Core Chain was anchored."
Evan sighed, a little disappointed.
"Such a massive coffin, just gone like that?"
Grandmaster You was incredulous. "Don't tell me someone carried it away."
Carrying off a coffin.
That kind of thing actually happens all the time in the human world.
When someone dies, you put them in a coffin, carry it away, and bury them.
But a coffin as big as the Great Bronze Sarcophagus—no ordinary person could carry that.
Grandmaster You had just mentioned it offhand, but now he felt a chill run through him, an inexplicable sense of dread.
Evan shook his head.
"Since there's nothing left to find, we can leave."
He'd come to Coldspire Peak just to look for the Woman Statue, but since it wasn't here, Evan couldn't be bothered to stick around.
As for that so-called True-Immortal Layman, he didn't have a shred of spiritual qi on him, so Evan saw no reason to get involved.
The group turned to leave.
"Hey, you over there!"
Suddenly, someone behind them shouted.
Evan and his group turned their heads, following the voice, and saw the young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe standing by the Spirit-Test Beads, now looking right at them.
The people who had been testing also turned their eyes, all glancing over at Evan and his companions.
"What's up?"
Evan met his gaze, his expression calm.
That look—no fear, no reverence—was totally different from everyone else around, making the young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe instantly unhappy.
"You guys came to Coldspire Peak, isn't it just to worship the immortal?"
"Now the opportunity is right in front of you. Aren't you going to hurry up and test your 'spiritual roots'?"
He shouted, urging them, but his face wore a fake 'I'm doing this for your own good' smile.
"I'm not interested," Queenie said.
"Me neither," Yvette shook her head.
Grandmaster You couldn't even be bothered to respond.
"None of us are interested in worshipping any so-called immortal."
Evan settled it, looking over with indifference: "And we're even less interested in worshipping a fake immortal like this."
Fake immortal.
Hearing those words, the young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe's face changed instantly. The people nearby also glared at Evan, clearly hostile.
Each of them had just finished the Spirit-Test Beads test, feeling weak as hell, but every single person was burning with devotion for the so-called True-Immortal Layman.
If this guy is a fake immortal, doesn't that mean everyone here is just a bunch of idiots?
Being played for fools and not even knowing it.
"Hey, little brother, you'd better take responsibility for what you say."
The young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe looked at Evan, his face dark: "My master, True-Immortal Layman, comes from the Profound Clarity Sect. The Profound Clarity Sect is a legitimate immortal sect!"
His words were full of pride and arrogance.
Having a master like that was his biggest bragging point.
"Has your master opened Heaven Gate and entered the immortal realm?"
Evan looked at him.
"Uh...of course not."
The young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe was stunned, then shook his head: "Though my master hasn't ascended yet, it's only a matter of time."
"And my master's dao is so powerful, he's basically a god among you mortals."
As he spoke, the others all nodded along.
None of them really believed the True-Immortal Layman was a real immortal from the immortal realm—it's just that the Profound Clarity Sect is legendary, so anyone from there is basically a god to these martial artists.
"You're just twisting words." Jason Liu sneered at Evan: "True-Immortal Layman hasn't entered the immortal realm—are you saying you have?"
"What a joke!"
He snorted. Jason Liu had just lit up four beads—the most in the whole crowd. Even Sam Liu only managed two.
If nothing goes wrong, Jason Liu will get to become True-Immortal Layman's disciple, thanks to lighting up four beads.
At that point, Jason Liu's status in the Liu clan will skyrocket—he'll leave everyone else in the dust, and before long, he'll be worshipped as a god.
Power, status, women, money—he figures they'll all be his for the taking.
Jason Liu is now totally convinced True-Immortal Layman is the real deal—a god with major skills. He can't stand Evan doubting him.
"I've opened Heaven Gate, stepped one foot inside, and seen the real immortal realm."
Evan nodded and spoke up. At first, everyone was stunned—then a bunch of people burst out laughing.
"Wow, what a bragger."
"Does he think we're idiots?"
Everyone looked down on Evan, thinking he was shameless—bragging without even preparing a script.
"Haha, this guy really knows how to brag."
The young man in the dark-blue Daoist robe shook his head at Evan: "So are you going to claim last night's thunder and all the heavenly signs were caused by you too?"
His lips curled in sarcasm, unable to hide his mocking tone.
"The phenomenon last night wasn't caused by me, but it disappeared because of me."
Evan looked at him. After he spoke, the people nearby just kept shaking their heads.
Finally, the True-Immortal Layman, who had been sitting quietly with his back to the crowd, slowly spoke up.
"Last night's heavenly signs were caused by my duel here."
"You, little kid, talking big—if you're really as amazing as you say, why not test the Spirit-Test Beads?"
"If you can light up five beads, I'll take you as my disciple and let go of everything you just said."